4G BTS Tower Project in Bangka Belitung Islands Completed

The construction project of 15 4G BTS towers in the Bangka Belitung Islands carried out by PT Mora Jaya Persada for Telkomsel has been officially completed and handed over. The project, valued at Rp 4.2 billion, spanned 8 months and covered tower construction on both Bangka Island and Belitung Island.

Island Logistics Challenges

Tower construction in island regions presents unique challenges that differ from projects on mainland Sumatra. Material logistics was the greatest challenge, as some site locations could only be accessed via sea routes using barges. Unpredictable weather conditions also frequently disrupted material delivery schedules.

Andi Pratama, S.T., Project Manager, described the strategies implemented to overcome logistics challenges. "We used a batching approach, where materials for several sites were shipped together on a single barge to optimize costs and time. We also prepared buffer stock at a transit warehouse in Pangkalpinang to anticipate delivery delays," he explained.

Location Distribution and Specifications

Of the 15 towers constructed, 10 towers are located on Bangka Island (spread across Pangkalpinang, Sungailiat, Belinyu, Mentok, and Toboali) and 5 towers on Belitung Island (Tanjungpandan, Manggar, and Gantung). Tower types vary between SST (Self-Supporting Tower) with heights of 42-72 meters and monopole with heights of 30-40 meters.

Each tower is equipped with complete supporting infrastructure including: reinforced concrete foundations, equipment shelters with air conditioning, electrical panels with backup generators, grounding systems, and security fencing. All CME work adheres to Telkomsel's strict specification standards.

One significant achievement in this project was the application of micropile foundation techniques at several locations with swamp soil conditions. This technique proved effective in overcoming low soil bearing capacity issues, producing stable and long-lasting foundations.

Impact on Coverage Improvement

With the completion of this project, Telkomsel's 4G signal coverage in Bangka Belitung increased by 35%, reaching more villages and coastal areas that had previously relied solely on 2G/3G signals. This improvement has been greatly appreciated by the community, especially the tourism and fisheries sectors that require reliable internet connectivity.